Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 11: The Power of Technology and Industry! [Please Read]

Liu Kuan said, "I was on the bridge when I crossed over, and then Your Majesty brought me here. I've never been to either end of the railway, so how would I know how long it is?"

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered and said, "Since this railway is connected to the cross-river bridge, Master Liu should know where the beginning and end of it are originally located, right?"

Liu Kuan couldn't help but look at Zhu Yuanzhang strangely.

I thought to myself: Lao Zhu, you are so greedy that you actually want the entire railway connected to the Yangtze River Bridge!

Of course he wouldn't say this.

He said, "In later times, there were numerous railways, extending in all directions. To the west, they could reach the Western Regions, Central Asia, West Asia, and even further west, Europe; to the east, they could reach the present-day Jurchen tribe."

"To the north, you can reach the Arctic Ocean; to the south, you can reach Qiongzhou Island. Even in remote plateaus like U-Tsang, railways have been built there."

"It can be said that the railways of later times are many times longer than the official roads of the Ming Dynasty today. And there are several railways connected to this Yangtze River Bridge, leading to various places. How can I guess where their beginning and end are?"

Zhu Yuanzhang heard that Liu Kuan's words meant to show off the extensive railway network in the future, but he was still surprised.

There are actually quite a few official roads in the Ming Dynasty today, but most of them are inherited from previous dynasties.

Some official roads even inherited the straight roads from the Qin Dynasty.

During the years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, very few official roads were actually built.

Even so, every time the official roads were built and local laborers were conscripted, the people would still complain.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang really found it hard to imagine how future generations would be able to build railways to all corners of the world.

He had seen the railway when he left the city. In addition to stones and wood, it also contained high-quality iron.

If what Liu Kuan said is true, the amount of fine iron used in building railways in the future would probably be an extremely terrifying number!

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly: "Building a railway requires a lot of fine iron, right? How can there be so much fine iron in later generations?"

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "Indeed, steel was used to build railways in later generations. The kind used on railways is called rails or steel rails. The reason why railways were built on such a large scale in later generations is naturally because of the greatly increased production of steel."

"In fact, in later generations, steel production became an important indicator of a country's strength. This was because steel could not only be used to build railways and forge weapons, but could also be used in all aspects of a country."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. "Producing so much steel and building so many railways is a waste of money and manpower, isn't it?"

"Hahaha," Liu Kuan couldn't help but laugh out loud. Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's surprise, he stopped and said, "Your Majesty's vision is limited by the times. If the Ming Dynasty had the current level of industry, it would be a waste of money and labor to produce steel and build railways."

"However, in later generations, technology was advanced and industrial power was strong. Whether it was steelmaking or railway construction, most of them used machinery, uh, machines similar to steam engines."

"Although a lot of people are employed, they are all hired workers. The state pays them wages, and with this salary, workers can fully support their families."

"In this way, whether it's the Great Steel Production Campaign or the Great Railway Construction Campaign, not only will it not waste people's money and labor, but it will also give people the opportunity to earn money and support their families, making them wealthy."

Zhu Yuanzhang still frowned and questioned, "As you said, wouldn't the court have to spend a lot of money to support those workers? How could the court in later generations be so wealthy?"

Liu Kuan said, "The country of the future will naturally be far richer than it is now. The reason is still the eight words I just mentioned - advanced technology and strong industry."

"I'm afraid it would take me a whole day and a whole night to explain all the reasons behind this. For now, I can only tell Your Majesty that if you want the Ming Dynasty to be strong, you also need to develop science and industry."

"What is 'science and technology', and what is 'industry'?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Forehead···"

Liu Kuan tried to explain, but found he couldn't remember the standard answer he had looked up online. When asked to summarize it in his own words, he couldn't immediately come up with one.

He thought for a moment and said, "For example, the invention of the steam engine, and then the invention of trains and railways based on the steam engine, which made transportation much more convenient than before, that is technology."

"As for industry, the ironworks that produced steel in the Ming Dynasty, for example, were classified as smelting industries; textile workshops were classified as light industries; and workshops that manufactured weapons, armor, and muskets were called military industries."

"In fact, calling these workshops in the Ming Dynasty industrial base is a gross overestimate. They can barely be considered the embryonic form of industry. This is because the production efficiency of these workshops is too low, while true industry has extremely high production efficiency."

"Take steel production as an example. Even if the Ming Dynasty produced over the past ten or even several dozen years, it might not produce as much steel as China would in a single day in the future!"

"The Ming Dynasty was still an agricultural country, while later China became an industrial country. Having strong production capacity is a major characteristic of an industrial country!"

Although Liu Kuan spoke without thinking and his words were not very good, Zhu Yuanzhang was still shocked when he heard it.

Coming to his senses, he wanted to question Liu Kuan's deliberate exaggeration of the so-called industrial power of later generations, but he felt that there was no need for Liu Kuan to do so.

So he opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't say the words of doubt.

However, after listening to Liu Kuan's words, Zhu Yuanzhang finally understood that whether it was science and technology, industry, or other things in the future, they could not be explained in a few words.

Anyway, he was determined to keep Liu Kuan in the Ming Dynasty and use him, so he could ask about related matters later.

It’s better to ask some practical questions right now.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Master Liu, can you build that train?"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought that since the cross-river bridge and railway had reached the Ming Dynasty, he could use this section of railway as long as there was a train.

If it is really useful, Ming Dynasty can develop science and technology and industry in the future and build longer railways.

As Liu Kuan described in later China, railways reached all corners of the world.

In that case, the imperial court's control over local areas and borders would inevitably be stronger, and both internal and external troubles would be easier to resolve.

The Ming Dynasty's reign would inevitably be extended as a result.

Liu Kuan didn't expect that Zhu Yuanzhang, who was just asking about science and technology and industry, would suddenly change to such a specific question.

After a moment's thought, he answered truthfully, "I don't know how to build a train, but the first generation wasn't particularly difficult to build, and I have a general understanding of the technology and inventions involved." "If I stayed in the Ming Dynasty, and His Majesty allowed me to requisition the necessary manpower and provided me with guarantees of money, food, and supplies, I could attempt this."

Liu Kuan thought that if he could not return to the afterlife and could only stay in the Ming Dynasty, it would be best not to become an official like the "Minister of Works" who held a high position and was in charge of too many things.

Because this would easily arouse jealousy and even get him involved in court struggles and officialdom, thus restricting his hands and feet.

It’s better to do something specific first.

Forming your own team and "inventing" the first train in the Ming Dynasty is a good choice.

In addition, Liu Kuan felt that instead of going to great lengths to persuade Zhu Yuanzhang and various forces in the Ming Dynasty to develop science and technology and industry, it would be better to let them see the benefits brought by science and technology and industry first.

Since there is a ready-made railway that has crossed with him, he only needs to build a train and put the railway into use as soon as possible to achieve his "persuasion" purpose.

Zhu Yuanzhang originally just asked that question and didn't think Liu Kuan could build a train.

After all, Liu Kuan had said before that he was still a scholar in the learning stage in later generations.

Hearing Liu Kuan say that it could be made, he was surprised and delighted, and couldn't help but smile and said, "Okay, then I will appoint you as the Minister of Works of the Ming Dynasty!"

Liu Kuan was a little speechless and thought to himself that Zhu Yuanzhang was too casual in appointing the official. He just gave the official title as the Minister of Works said.

But he also knew that Zhu Yuanzhang, who had just abolished the prime minister and the Secretariat, could indeed make decisions on many matters in the Ming Dynasty.

Unfortunately, this did not go according to his plan.

He immediately bowed and said, "If Your Majesty truly wants me to serve the Ming Dynasty, then let me work diligently."

"The position of Minister of Works is too high, and the responsibilities are too numerous. I have no relevant experience. If I rashly take on this position, I am afraid that not only will I not be able to do my job well, but I will also arouse jealousy and get caught up in officialdom struggles, which will delay my work."

After hearing what Liu Kuan said, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that it made sense. He also had a higher opinion of Liu Kuan's mind and character and showed admiration for him.

He nodded and asked, "What kind of official do you want to be?"

Liu Kuan pondered for a moment and said, "Why not first appoint me as a minor official of the seventh or eighth rank? I only need to be in charge of building trains."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head. "From what you said, building a train will inevitably involve the mobilization of manpower, money, and supplies from many sources. If your position is too low, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the public."

"How about this? Let's establish a new Science and Technology Department in the Ministry of Industry and appoint you as a Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Department."

Although Liu Kuan had read some historical online novels with the Ming Dynasty as the background and had some understanding of the official positions in the Ming Dynasty, he could not remember them clearly.

He then asked, "Excuse me, Your Majesty, what is the rank of this Yuanwailang? And what position does he hold in the Department of Science and Technology?"

This was the first time Zhu Yuanzhang heard the term "several in-commendations", but he immediately understood its meaning.

He smiled and said, "Yuanwailang is a fifth-rank official, the third-in-command in the Science and Technology Department—above him are Shangshu and Langzhong."

Liu Kuan was surprised and asked in confusion, "Does the Science and Technology Department have a Shangshu alone?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "In the Tang and Song dynasties, each of the six ministries had only one Shangshu. However, I feel that one Shangshu cannot handle so many things, and it is easy for corruption to breed if one person is in charge of one department."

"So, a few years ago, we changed the official system. Each department now has a Shangshu and Langzhong, and additional Yuanwailang and Zhushi."

"Of course, not all the six ministries have ministers in office. After all, there are too few talented people who can be ministers. Even the current ministers in each department have a small number that we cannot stand."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head, obviously dissatisfied with the abilities or character of some ministers.

Liu Kuan was stunned for a moment.

He didn't expect that the official system of the Hongwu Dynasty would be like this.

Then he vaguely understood why Emperor Jianwen changed the official system of the Hongwu period and developed in a retro style after he ascended the throne - it can only be said that the ideas of this grandfather and grandson are quite interesting.

Afterwards, Liu Kuan felt that being the third in command of the Ministry of Industry's Science and Technology Department was exactly what he wanted. He was neither conspicuous nor had enough power.

As for the pressure from the Shangshu and Langzhong above him, Liu Kuan felt that it was not a problem - as long as Zhu Yuanzhang was not out of his mind, he would not deliberately look for people to make trouble for him. He would most likely find two good superiors who could help him deal with official affairs.

Thinking of this, Liu Kuan bowed and said, "Since that's the case, I will obey your orders."

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Now that Young Master Liu has become our subject, he is considered a member of the Ming Dynasty. Why wouldn't you kneel down and pay homage to us?"

Hearing this, Liu Kuan hesitated.

He knew that it was normal for Ming Dynasty subjects to kneel down and worship the emperor, but he had just traveled through time and was still wearing modern clothes, so it was difficult for him to get around this problem.

Just when Liu Kuan was beginning to regret being a member of the Ministry of Works, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed out loud and said, "Don't worry about it. I was just kidding you. In fact, there aren't many kneeling rituals in the Ming Dynasty."

"Since you are from the future and are willing to serve the Ming Dynasty, we will grant you the privilege of not kneeling except at important occasions such as grand court meetings and sacrifices. How do you do it?"

Liu Kuan heaved a sigh of relief and bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

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(End of this chapter)